*New* Children First 2017

On October 2nd 2017, The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone
T.D. launched Children First 2017. The document supersedes Children First
2011 from December 11th 2017, following the full commencement of the Children
First Act 2015.

Publication of new "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools
2017" - Circular 0081/2017 As per Circular 0081/2017, schools will be permitted
two separate half-day school closures during the 2017/18 school year to allow time,
as a school community, to engage with the revised procedures and to access the support
available. The support available is as follows:

PDST Support

The PDST ELearning Programmes are coming soon in February 2018. Schools may
engage with the dedicated PDST on-line resource to guide them through the revised
Department of Education Child Protection Procedures for Primary & Post-Primary Schools
2017. Click on the link to access this resource once it has become available.

TUSLA

Schools may engage with the 90-minute Universal e-Learning programme developed by
Tusla which is available to schools by clicking the link below. This programme was
written to support all personnel, regardless of profession, in recognising concerns
about children and reporting such concerns, as required.

Additional supports: One
full-day, face-to-face seminar for Designated Liaison Persons (DLPs) and Deputy
Designated Liaison Persons (DDLPs) which will be facilitated in Education Centres
commencing mid March 2018 . Schools will be sent dates from their local Education
Centres shortly.